The US Environmental Protection Agency established quotas on Nov. 30 for renewable fuels in 2019 and for biomass-based diesel in 2020. EPA said the conventional renewable fuel quota, which is met primarily by corn-based ethanol, will be maintained at 19 billion gal in 2019, while required advance biofuel volumes will climb by 630 million gal from 2018 to 19.92 billion gal.

DEA Deutsche Erdoel AG (DEA), Hamburg, has agreed to acquire Sierra Oil & Gas, Mexico City, giving it access to a portfolio of six exploration and appraisal blocks in Mexico, including the Zama discovery.

Privately owned Cuadrilla Resources Ltd. again stopped hydraulic fracturing operations at its Preston New Road natural gas drilling site in Lancashire, northwest England, after minor tremors were detected Dec. 11. Fracturing in the Bowland shale has been halted three times since October.

Did the Democrats regaining majority control of the US House in the recent midterm elections improve the legislative climate for a federal carbon tax? Its prospects certainly look brighter now than when the Republicans were in charge and opposed to any proposal for a new federal tax.

Marathon Oil Corp. reported an average 30-day initial production of more than 2,400 boe/d (84% oil) from a four-well Middle Bakken pad in the Ajax area of the Williston basin in Dunn County, North Dakota.